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Quote by H. L. Mencken

“Poetry is a comforting piece of fiction set to more or less lascivious music.”

Quote by H. L. Mencken

Book:Mencken Chrestomathy

Work

Mencken Chrestomathy

This book compiles a selection of writings by the American journalist, critic, and satirist H.L. Mencken, showcasing his wit and insight on various subjects including politics, culture, and society. more

Author

H. L. Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. Born on September 12, 1880, and passing away on January 29, 1956, Mencken is renowned for his significant contributions to American culture and language, particularly through his satirical essays and critical analyses of the American establishment. more

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“[Science] must be amoral by its very nature: The minute it begins separating facts into the two categories of good ones and bad ones it ceases to be science and becomes a mere nuisance, like theology.”

Two Facts Minutes Mere Cease Theology Categories Separating Nuisance

Author:H. L. Mencken

“[Texas is] the place where there are the most cows and the least milk and the most rivers and the least water in them, and where you can look the farthest to see the least.”

Looks Water Rivers Texas Milk Cows

Author:H. L. Mencken

“The essential dilemma of education is to be found in the fact that the sort of man (or woman) who knows a given subject sufficiently well to teach it is usually unwilling to do so.”

Knows Men Wells Facts Found Given Teach Subjects Essentials Dilemma Unwilling

Author:H. L. Mencken

“Blessed be Providence which has given to each his toy: the doll to the child, the child to the woman, the woman to the man, the man to the devil!”

Men Children Given Devil Blessed Toys Providence Dolls

Author:Victor Hugo

“The extortions and oppressions of government will go on so long as such bare fraudulence deceives and disarms the victims; so long as they are ready to swallow the immemorial official theory that protesting against the stealings of the archbishop's secretary's nephew's mistress' illegitimate son is a sin against the Holy Ghost.”

Long Government Sin Son Ready Theory Goes On Holy Victim Stealing Ghost Oppression Officials Deceiving Secretary Mistress Holy Ghost Nephew Extortion

Book:PREJUDICES A SELECTION

Source: PREJUDICES A SELECTION

“The great difficulty about keeping the Ten Commandments is that no man can keep them and be a gentleman.”

Men Ten Difficulty Gentleman Commandments Ten Commandments

Author:H. L. Mencken

“The notion that anything is gained by fixing a language in a groove is cherished only by pedants.”

Language Notion Fixing Groove Pedants

Book:American Language

Source: American Language

“The verdict of a jury is the a priori opinion of that juror who smokes the worst cigars.”

Opinion Worst Smoke Jury Cigar Verdict Jurors

Author:H. L. Mencken

“What reason is there for believing that a high death rate, in itself, is undesirable? To my knowledge none whatever. The plain fact is that, if it be suitably selective, it is extremely salubrious. Suppose it could be so arranged that it ran to 100% a year among politicians, executive secretaries, drive chairmen, and the homicidally insane? What rational man would object?”

Ifs Men Years Believe Reason Facts Objects Politician Rate Rational Insane Ran Executives Secretary Chairman Selective Undesirable

Book:Mencken Chrestomathy

Source: Mencken Chrestomathy

“Why writers write I do not know. As well ask why a hen lays an egg or why a cow stands patiently while an underprivileged farmer burglarizes her.”

Knows Writing Wells Asks Lays Eggs Farmers Cows Hens Underprivileged

Author:H. L. Mencken